Assess Your Plant's Light
Select your plant and describe your space to get a light match assessment.
- Low light: North windows, 6+ feet from any window
- Medium light: East/west windows, 3–6 feet from window
- Bright indirect: Near south/west window, behind sheer curtain
- Direct sun: South window, right on the sill, no obstruction
© 2025 GardenMath. Light assessments are estimates. Actual light varies by hemisphere, season, and local environment. This page does not store personal data.
Understanding Indoor Light Levels
Indoor plants receive far less light than they would outdoors — even a bright south-facing window delivers only a fraction of full sun. Light decreases rapidly with distance from a window: a plant 6 feet from a window receives about 25% of the light available right at the glass.
Signs of Too Little Light
Pale or yellowing leaves, leggy stretching toward the window, slow growth, and smaller new leaves all indicate a plant isn't getting enough light. Move it closer to a window or add a grow light — even a basic LED panel for 12–14 hours can make a dramatic difference.
Signs of Too Much Light
Brown crispy patches (especially in the center of leaves), bleached or washed-out color, and wilting despite adequate watering can all indicate too much direct sun. Most tropical houseplants prefer bright indirect light rather than direct rays.